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LIVE SPEAKER SERIES

COFFEE + CREATIVES is an event series that aims to bring together the creative community to learn, be inspired and make new connections.

It’s free to attend, and everyone is welcome.

At each of the speaker series events, we’ll moderate a discussion with industry professionals focusing on a specific topic and then open the floor to Q&A.

Blake Jorgenson
Psychology of Success

Monday April 7, 2025

Panel Discussion
Behind the Lens with Pro Photographer Showdown Contestants

Tuesday April 8, 2025

Darren Rayner
Storytelling in Motion:
Lessons from Action Sports Films to Branded Content

Wednesday April 9, 2025

Blake Jorgenson
Psychology of Success

Monday April 7, 2025

Whistler Conference Centre Ballroom
9AM – 12PM
 

In this session, Blake will dive into the art of navigating success and failure, embracing change, and mastering reinvention for the long game. Through personal stories and insights, Blake will explore how to tackle the rollercoaster of challenges and opportunities with resilience and purpose.

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Blake Jorgenson

Based in Vancouver, BC, Blake Jorgenson has created still and motion work for many of North America’s leading outdoor, active, and automotive brands, including Acura, Adidas, Columbia Sports, Eddie Bauer, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nike, Oakley, Patagonia, RAM Trucks, Red Bull, Specialized, The North Face, and Under Armour—clients who are looking for work that has power to inspire and stop people in their tracks. Blake’s background is action photography, and for his commercial work, he believes in meticulously constructing, styling and polishing his images in ways that give them the impact and visual edge of the best spontaneous action shots. For him, this process is a true collaboration between creative and production professionals. Brainstorming, problem-solving and a blue-sky spirit of imagination and adventure are the juice that continually fuels his creative drive.

Panel Discussion
Behind the Lens with Pro Photographer Showdown Contestants

Tuesday April 8, 2025

Whistler Conference Centre Ballroom
9AM – 12PM

Join the contestants of the Pro Photographer Showdown presented by Arc’teryx, as they share the stories behind their images, the moments that shaped their careers and the passion that drives their craft.

Discover what it takes to capture the perfect shot—from navigating extreme environments to finding fresh perspectives in familiar landscapes. Whether you’re a budding creative, seasoned professional, or just a fan of photography, this session will leave you inspired to chase your own creative vision.

Register For This Event

Meet The Panel

Paris Gore

Paris Gore

Professional photographer Paris Gore has an exceptional talent for capturing authentic narratives set against vast-yet-nuanced landscapes. He’s spent the past 15 years documenting the action and culture of mountain biking, exploring the dynamic relationship between light, movement and mountainous terrain, and that expertise has allowed him to expand his vision to other outdoor sports, fashion, automotive campaigns and beyond. 

As an expert outdoorsman, pilot, snowboarder, snowmobiler and climber himself, Paris’s photos tell stories with an authenticity and perspective only achieved through a deep familiarity with his subjects. His work has been featured in renowned editorial publications and been pivotal in driving commercial campaigns for companies all over the world. 

Paris splits his time between Bellingham and Trout Lake, Washington, where he can be found flying his plane, exploring the woods with his dog Fern, and continuously seeking his next endeavor. 

Zoya Lynch

Zoya Lynch

As both an athlete and an artist, Zoya’s camera has led her on expeditions to mountain ranges across severalcontinents.She has earned recognition for her work with commercial brands and has featured photos in severalmajor publications across theoutdoor industry. Photography allows Zoya to translate her deep reverence for thenatural world through a tapestry of light-filled moments. She is constantly seeking to combine the wilderness andstories of human connection, achievement and wonder. Her travels abroad and the nature that surrounds herhome in Revelstoke, BC, inform and inspire her work. With forests, streams and peaks as her preferred subjects,her appreciation for the natural world continues to deepen through her photography practice.

Morgan Maassen

Morgan Maassen

I am a photographer from Santa Barbara, California and was born in 1990. My interest inphotography started in my teens after experimenting with my family’s home video camera at thebeach, goofing off with friends and exploring thecentral coast. After working in the graphic designindustry, I decided to pursue filmmaking and then photography as both a creative outlet andoccupation.Growing up in and around the ocean has provided me with my favorite subject tophotograph. The majority of my work is water-related and involves the oceanic lifestyle. I’ve alsofrequently incorporated my passions of traveling, snowboarding, nature, architecture and fashioninto my work. While I strive to capture what I see as beautiful, this is often notthe perfect moment.Instead, light, textures, and the abstract nature of the earth are what truly fascinate me–the humanelement and the infinite variables of emotion keep me on my toes when working with people.Iconsider myself an active participant inthe digital age. The internet has allowed me to communicate,network and collaborate with people, places, and subject matter across the world. I enjoy workingwith both film and digital mediums, and motion pictures are the apple of my eye. I dream of nothingmore than visiting the next new country, capturing whatever beauty it may hold

Aaron Schwartz

Aaron Schwartz

My name is Aaron Schwartz and I’m a freelance creative focusing on graphic design, photography, lettering, and illustration. Currently, most of my time is committed to KORUA Shapes for creative direction, photography, and design. Together with my friend Jonathan Voellmy I also co-host & curate the TIDAL Art Show in LAAX, of which we’ve hosted 3 editions thus far.

Born in North Vancouver in the spring of 1986, I grew up between Vancouver and Switzerland, where I currently reside in Flims Waldhaus. I’m a graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art & Design, having earned a bachelors degree in Communication Design way back in 2009.

Snowboarding, drawing & painting, skateboarding, swimming, hiking, traveling, eating, sleeping, and other stuff alike is what occupies my spare time.

Darren Rayner
Storytelling in Motion:
Lessons from Action Sports Films to Branded Content

Wednesday April 9, 2025

Whistler Conference Centre Ballroom
9AM – 12PM
 

From being a co-founder of Voleurz, producing action sports films and clothing brand, to being the Head of Creative at Magnafire Media, Darren Rayner has built a career on crafting authentic, visually striking narratives. In this session, Darren will share how he blends the authenticity of action sports storytelling with the strategy of brand-focused filmmaking. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a creative pioneer from the Sea to Sky region who’s mastered the art of connecting with audiences through motion.

Register For This Event

Darren Rayner

Darren Rayner is the founder of Magnafire, a creative content studio specializing in scalable video production for brands in the sports, outdoor, and adventure industries. Drawing from his experience as a filmmaker and co-founder of the grassroots brand Voleurz, Darren has built a reputation for crafting bold, impactful content that resonates across platforms.

With a passion for storytelling and a knack for turning ideas into entertainment, Darren leads Magnafire by helping brands amplify their impact through creative and authentic campaigns.